Solved problem of 3" lean on 46

yahbut

yahbut

Member
Well I got the coupe to within 1/2" of level. Not bad considering it was 3". I had initially taken the leaf pack and flipped it from left to right. This then moved the serious tilt from passenger side to drivers side. So now I know its a weak spring. Then what I did was removed the front spring pack again and flipped every second leaf from left to right. So I had roughly the same amount of weak leafs on each side. I also removed that 1/2" shim that was between the top of rear spring and cross member. Then I removed jack stands and set car on it wheels and she now only leans 1/2". The car sits a bit lower now which it needed. Good enough to drive this way until I but it away in November. Then I'll play with it tthrough the winter.
 
That's usin' yer noggin for more than a hatrack! ...For your play over the winter, if you decide to stay with the same spring packs, open them up and de-burr them at the wear points. Use 5th wheel grease for lubrication before reassembly. Hope your garage is heated!
 
Lol yep its heated :-) You bet that is what I'll be doing with them. Thanks Alan
 
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yahbut said:
Well I got the coupe to within 1/2" of level. Not bad considering it was 3". I had initially taken the leaf pack and flipped it from left to right. This then moved the serious tilt from passenger side to drivers side. So now I know its a weak spring. Then what I did was removed the front spring pack again and flipped every second leaf from left to right. So I had roughly the same amount of weak leafs on each side. I also removed that 1/2" shim that was between the top of rear spring and cross member. Then I removed jack stands and set car on it wheels and she now only leans 1/2". The car sits a bit lower now which it needed. Good enough to drive this way until I but it away in November. Then I'll play with it tthrough the winter.
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This is good info, thanks for sharing, my pickup leans in the rear right. I think I might try doing same and see what happens.
 

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You can take the spring apart and find the leaf with the most arch. Trace it on a
piece of cardboard and maybe add a little more arch. I have a press brake and
with a wide bottom die adjusted the down stroke so it just slightly hit the leaf. I moved the leaf through the brake and about every 3"s let it hit it. You don't want
to over bend it as you can go over it again matching the spring to the cardboard outline. I did this to several springs years ago and they still sit good. I don't
remember but I think I put a slight more arch in the drivers side for my 250lbs
at the time. Now down to a 40 years low of 230. It seems to be an input problem. G.M.
 
Seth Swoboda said:
How about getting new leaf springs if your going to all the trouble of taking them apart anyway?
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Someone mickey moused my rear spring in the past and there aren't that many leafs to fool around with. I thought it might be worth a try and doesn't cost anything.
 

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markivpedalpusher said:
Someone mickey moused my rear spring in the past and there aren't that many leafs to fool around with. I thought it might be worth a try and doesn't cost anything.
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Looks to me like someone (PO?) was trying to get a little softer ride. Puts a lot more stress on the remaining spring plies.
 
Yeah several PO's ago...Good info I need to find a new spring. I'm just not sure the aftermarket springs with reverse eye's 2.5" drop max will be low enough...
 
markivpedalpusher said:
Yeah several PO's ago...Good info I need to find a new spring. I'm just not sure the aftermarket springs with reverse eye's 2.5" drop max will be low enough...
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There is also a limit to how low you can go before the axle bottoms out. That is no fun at all. I have used the springs with disc type sliders between the leaves on several cars and I think they do a good job.
 
Seth Swoboda said:
How about getting new leaf springs if your going to all the trouble of taking them apart anyway?
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A new leaf spring here is $700. Way to much for me...besides thats no fun just removing the old one and bolting a new one in. Anyone can do that. I had to figure out why the car was leaning and try fix it. It didnt cost me one cent and i learned something.I also needed to lower the car so the saggy spring worked to my advantage.
 
G.M. said:
You can take the spring apart and find the leaf with the most arch. Trace it on a
piece of cardboard and maybe add a little more arch. I have a press brake and
with a wide bottom die adjusted the down stroke so it just slightly hit the leaf. I moved the leaf through the brake and about every 3"s let it hit it. You don't want
to over bend it as you can go over it again matching the spring to the cardboard outline. I did this to several springs years ago and they still sit good. I don't
remember but I think I put a slight more arch in the drivers side for my 250lbs
at the time. Now down to a 40 years low of 230. It seems to be an input problem. G.M.
Click to expand...

So would this work using a big sledge hammer? Are all the leafs in a spring pack arched the same amount?
 
$700 ???? How the hell is it that much? How could a firm justify this??
That sounds insane. I get that your in Canada, I'm in England so would also need one shipped plus import duty plus tax, it's nowhere near that amount of coin.
With that kinda funds needed to replace the spring I'd have done exactly what you've done. Didn't cost a cent and lowered and leveled your car, a bit of learning and a proud smile.
Well done.
Martin.







$700 !!!!
 
There are companies that will make a spring for you. I have used St. Louis Spring with good results. They quoted me less than $200 for a 10 (11?) leaf front spring a few months ago. As an option.
 
scooder said:
$700 ???? How the hell is it that much? How could a firm justify this??
That sounds insane. I get that your in Canada, I'm in England so would also need one shipped plus import duty plus tax, it's nowhere near that amount of coin.
With that kinda funds needed to replace the spring I'd have done exactly what you've done. Didn't cost a cent and lowered and leveled your car, a bit of learning and a proud smile.
Well done.
Martin


Martin I factored exchange and shipping into the $700 total. Mac's Auto Parts cataloque quotes price at $435 then have to add 30% exchange. That comes to $565 canadian dollars plus duty and shipping cost. That leaves $135 for duty and shipping cost and I am
sure I'm really lighlight on that. Macs cataloque quotes to add 19% of cost of item for shipping cost to Canada for items costing $300 usd and more. I kinda think with the weight of the spring this formula wouldnt apply.







BOTE]
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